Welcome to Bill Worth Books

Join me on Friday, August 10th in Lahaina

Look for me at the Maui Writers Ink sales table on Friday, August 10, 2018 in Lahaina. I'll be one of two Maui writers whose work will be featured during Lahaina's "Second Friday" festival on Friday, August 10. The event begins at 5 p.m. on historic Front Street, near the Baldwin House.

I'll feature House of the Sun: A Metaphysical Novel of Maui and also offer The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir, and my non-fiction book, Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis: How Forgiveness Helped Me Heal My Brain By Changing My Mind.

If you're on Maui, or know someone who will be on Friday, August 10, come visit this beautiful venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Lahaina! We can talk story and I can introduce you to my wonderful novel, shown here.

Back on Maui for good – and it’s very, very good.

Welcome to BillWorthBooks.com, a website where you can peruse and purchase the best in metaphysical and inspirational fiction, as well as Bill’s important new book, Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis: How Forgiveness Helped Me Heal My Brain By Changing My Mind.

Thanks for taking the time to explore my website. You’ll find lots of inspiring stuff here, including my new book. You can also find my metaphysical novels, The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir, and House of the Sun: A Metaphysical Novel of Maui. You can download free sample chapters, and if you want to read more, you can buy the books through Amazon.com.

This site also contains my blog, which deals with writing and spirituality. I’m also available on Facebook and Twitter.

Before writing my books, I spent almost 30 years as a newspaper journalist in Ohio and Maui, Hawaii. (I know, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.) After my journalism career, I became a Unity minister and retired from active ministry in August of 2009 to devote the “third half” of my life to writing inspirational fiction and non-fiction. Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis is the story of my 28-year journey with an intractable disease, during which I was able to mitigate MS using the power of my mind – and one controversial, “off-label” drug.

My early years on Maui (1983-89) inspired my novel House of the Sun: A Metaphysical Novel of Maui. House of the Sun is the English translation of the Hawaiian word “Haleakala.” Haleakala is Maui’s massive quiescent volcano – a sacred site for many Hawaiians.

My 13+ years in Unity ministry inspired my second novel, The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir, a controversial look at the man who is worshipped as a god by billions of Christians. What was he doing between the ages of 12 and 30, when he began his recorded ministry? What was his relationship with Mary Magdalene? How did he learn to create the so-called miracles he was recorded as having done? Could he have traveled to Egypt and India to learn from avatars and sages? Did he really die on a cross?

Now I am living once more on Maui, where I have completed my new non-fiction book, Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis, which you can purchase through my publisher, Next Century Publishing, on its GoRead website, or through many platforms, including Amazon.com. The book is also available in many e-book forms, including Kindle.

I am progressive, especially in spiritual matters. I believe that hidebound, conservative churches have fostered fear, guilt, and shame among their members to control them and keep them coming back on Sunday – and oh, by the way, to keep filling those collection plates.

I’m much more interested in spirituality than I am in religion – as you’ll discover from my books and my blog. This puts me in a minority, although that minority is growing. For example, surveys show that almost 60 million American adults believe they are spiritual – but not especially religious.

I intend to be a measured, calm voice for progressive spirituality. I believe the American people are weary of the shouting, temper-tantrum religious right commentators they see on television and hear on radio. There’s a place for restrained, civil, progressive discussion in this country, and you’ve found it here, and in my books.

Buy all three of them, and come back here often.

My Books

In 1989, Bill Worth was living in paradise, on Maui. What he did not know was that he was in danger of dying in paradise, for he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating, incurable disease.

When the neurologist told him he had MS, he looked the doctor in the eye and said: “Doc, you say I have MS, and you may be right. But what I say is that MS does not have me.”

Bill writes: “That diagnosis was the beginning of a twenty-eight-year odyssey. You see, the doctor was telling me the facts of MS. I was telling him the truth about me."

With that, the writer/editor embarked on a 28-year journey of treating the intractable disease with the power of his mind, exercise, a better diet, and the use of an “off-label,” alternative drug. He declined to take any drugs neurologists recommended for MS, determined to meet the disease on his own terms. His journey included writing and publishing two spiritual novels and becoming ordained as a Unity minister.

In his 13-year career as a minister, he found the power of forgiveness, which assisted him in his unique treatment of MS. This book explores his discovery, which required him to seek self-forgiveness because of many years of failed relationships.

Bill holds two degrees from Ohio State University: a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in journalism and education. He and his wife, Nancy, have returned to Maui, where they are “retired.” Bill continues to write as well as edit manuscripts for a book publisher; Nancy sells advertising for a magazine publisher and art for a renowned gallery in Lahaina.

"House of the Sun: A Metaphysical Novel of Maui"

House of the Sun, a novel set on the island of Maui, introduces Keli’i, a young boy who has special powers – and an indelible connection with Madame Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire.

Keli’i is apprenticed to Joshua, an elderly kahuna, to learn the secrets of the ancient Hawaiian mysteries of the Huna, a spiritual way of life still practiced by some modern-day Hawaiians.

Keli’i spends years with his mentor, learning the mystical spiritual practice – and struggling to become a kahuna himself. He finds himself drawn to Haleakala, Maui’s majestic volcano known as the House of the Sun. In Haleakala’s massive crater, he repeatedly is challenged by Madame Pele as he seeks to learn the ways of the Huna.

The mountain also brings him the two loves of his life. One he loses, in a tragic accident at sea; the other he gains by saving her life. Her name is Aimee, a tourist from Ohio who is the daughter of renowned televangelist Jeremiah Justice. The relationship between Aimee and Keli’i illuminates the difference between the harsh fundamentalism of the religious right and the gentle spirituality of the Huna.

The novel concludes with a climactic clash between Jeremiah and Keli’i on the slopes of Haleakala, as Madame Pele makes a final, dramatic appearance.

"The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir"

The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir is a novel that casts Christianity’s most revered figure not as a god, but as a man born fully human who learned how to become divine by accepting the "job description” of the Christ. This title defines the innate divinity of humankind. It is not his last name.

The novel has Jesus coming to earth to teach, much as the Buddha and Lao Tzu before him and Mohammed after him. He leaves his home of Nazareth at age twelve to study esoteric mysteries with the Essene community in ancient Israel; then travels to Egypt and India. In these places, he learns how to perform the so-called miracles as reported in the New Testament gospels (and corroborated in other texts, such as the Gnostic gospels.)

Because there is no hard evidence of these travels, The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ is a novel, rather than non-fiction. Much has been written about the possibility that Jesus visited India, either as a youth or after the crucifixion, but it is all speculation.

In The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ, Jesus narrates his story of becoming a student of sages and avatars in India, of studying under John the Baptist in the Essene community in Israel, and of his fiery relationship with the love of his life, the Magdalene.

The novel is rich with characters Jesus encounters, including Amad, the bandit trader who kidnaps Jesus but becomes his life-long friend; Amad’s mother-in-law Maya, who teaches Jesus about the life of the Buddha; and Om, the irascible dwarrow who forces Jesus to face his own fears and teaches him how to access spiritual laws that allow him to perform “miracles.”

Media

Interview with Anna Shouse on July 18, 2017

Had a stimulating and fun hour-long interview on Unity.fm with Anna Shouse about my healing journey with Multiple Sclerosis. We covered a lot of ground, and Anna asked great questions. Click here to hear the interview if you missed it.

See Bill Talk About His New Book

Interview with Dr. Christiane Northrup on June 21, 2017

Great interview this morning on Hay House Radio with Dr. Christiane Northrup, discussing my new book, "Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis: How Forgiveness Helped Me Heal My Brain By Changing My Mind." Spent an hour chatting with her, and she asked some great questions. She's a best-selling author, a medical doctor (ob-gyn), and an expert on women's health and healing. MS affects twice the number of women than men, for some reason. She wrote a great endorsement for the book and it's on the front cover. You can buy it on Amazon.com or on GoRead.com, my publisher's website. Go to www.hayhouseradio.com to listen to the interview.

What People Are Saying

What People Are Saying About Bill's Books

I love this book. It's inspiring. I cannot recommend it highly enough because of the wonderful influence it is having on the MS community and the rest of us who read it. It is not simply a book about MS, but a book about how to live a transformed life by changing your mind and heart through forgiveness. Because of events that forced Bill to learn about forgiveness and most importantly to practice it, he is still here living a happy, busy life at 75 after being diagnosed with MS in his 40's, which is really amazing. For most people being diagnosed with MS is like receiving a death sentence, but not for Bill. When I read that he said to the doctor who diagnosed him, "You may say I have MS, but what I say is MS does not have me," I was absolutely inspired. You really believe him when he says, "I have mastered MS." He is giving hope to thousands and thousands of people with MS and their families. My daughter-in-law, Annie, died from MS and we all felt resigned to the fact that her life would be cut short, so I personally know how important Bill's path to healing is. I believe Annie is on the other side cheering Bill and his wonderful book on because if he can do it so can others. Thanks for paving the way, Bill.

-- Patricia Conte-Nelson

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Bill, I recommended your new book to a newcomer at my church. She and her husband had come to a silent auction there about a month ago. I heard that he had been diagnosed with MS that day ... Today, I told her about you and your book. She was very thankful, as she said that her husband seems to be following blindly along with whatever the doctor says and has not been taking charge of his care. Before I left church today, she was on Amazon looking at your book. Hopefully, your book will help both her and her husband. She seemed relieved and said she had not known where to turn for help.

-- Shaun Harris, Denton, TX

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Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis is one of the very best accounts I’ve ever read about what it takes to heal from an illness— any illness really, not just MS. Beautifully written and intensely honest, Bill’s account is must reading for anyone who is ready to truly heal.-- Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers: Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Wellbeing, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, and The Wisdom of Menopause

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In this heartfelt, honest account, Bill Worth illuminates the crucial connection between consciousness and healing. This is not a book just about philosophy, but real and practical results due to a change of mind and forgiveness -- a model and message that can make all of our lives new. I have tremendous respect for Bill's healing and his writing. He is a way-shower. -- Alan Cohen, author of A Course in Miracles Made Easy

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This book is a profound, honest look at how practicing the spiritual principle of forgiveness can alter the outcome of an intractable disease. Bill Worth makes it clear that the spirit-mind-body triad is critical in dealing with any illness. This book could change your mind about dealing with a chronic, incurable disease. -- Rev. Howard Caesar, senior minister, Unity of Houston and author of One + One Is One: Making Oneness Your Way of Life

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The privilege of reading this book most likely took me on a different journey and offered a different perspective from most of the other readers' and reviewers' experiences. Many readers were intrigued by the portions in the book having to do with the details and facts concerning multiple sclerosis but I was already privy to the details of Bill Worth's 28-year menacing and uncertain dealings with multiple sclerosis. I found myself much more fascinated with the autobiographical aspect of Bill's journey because you see, I happen to be Amy, born Amy Carol Worth in 1962 to Bill and Rima Worth.

Having no memory of Bill until we met when I was 17, the book took me down a road that I had never ventured, not for lack of interest, but more a matter of the fact that my time with Bill and Nancy in my life has always been about the present, not the past. It was inconsequential given all the other conversations we were having about life at any given moment. But what a pleasure it was to learn so many details about Bill's life!

His honesty and complete ownership of what he considers his transgressions was very humbling and real, and I'm lucky enough to know that first-hand, as our relationship has blossomed so wonderfully and satisfyingly over the last thirty-some years. Bill's perspective on forgiving really interested me because I had to go through my own process of forgiveness when my first child was born, Bill's first granddaughter.

I had to make a decision as to whether Bill was going to be invited into her life -- was I at the point where I had forgiven him? Or was I not there yet in my heart and mind? And would I ever be? I felt I had no choice but to put it into God's hands and ultimately Bill and Nancy, by way of convincing and obvious unconditional love for my daughter -- and for me -- have been a very powerful force and influence in the lives of me and my children.

Bill can write very frankly and freely about forgiveness for he has not only learned to forgive himself and others but he has experienced being forgiven, probably a great deal more than he realizes.

Read the book, my friends. You will be refreshed by the candid, honest, straightforward, no-drama truth that Bill reveals. It's simply a great book.

-- Amy Clapp, of Greensboro, NC; Bill's older daughter and the mother of three of his grandchildren

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Bill Worth has written a mini autobiography--really an honest and forthright look at his life "before and after." In 1989, in his late 40's, he gets the sobering and frightening news that he has Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating condition with no cure that ultimately will leave him bound to a wheelchair and imminent death. In his retrospective look at the trail of misplaced priorities resulting in broken marriages and abandoned children, he realizes that his life has morphed into an exceedingly unhappy one. His trip out of this miserable state of downward spiraling events set him on a path that has had a much better outcome.

Bill makes it clear that he is healed but not cured of MS. During his visit to his doctor in 2015, he was told that there were no new lesions on his brain and no other evidence of active MS, yet he retains some residual effects.

This is the inspiring true story of one man's journey from a powerful, ego-driven journalist to a heart-centered, caring person. Along the way we are given touching glimpses of the healing relationships with his children and former wives, the love story with his forever love, Nancy, and the miraculous transformation that takes place when you change your mind! According to Bill Worth, forgiveness changes everything. I think this suggests that, no matter the affliction, if you are sincere about changing your life, reading this book is your first step.

Hi Bill - Just want you to know that I bought your book "The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir" and I loved it. Was going to buy it on my Kindle but I am so happy that I have it as a book and use it from time to time. You are right that it might upset some people but to me it spoke to my heart. Thanks again for writing this wonderful book

. -- Love and Light, Louise Thomas, one of Bills' fans from North Georgia

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The book (The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ) is amazing, Bill ... Great cover work too!
-- Jamie Sanders, host of "Spirituality Today" on Unity.fm radio

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House of the Sun: A Metaphysical Novel of Maui is a magnificent, enthralling adventure! Bill Worth weaves a tale that speaks deeply to the mind, heart, and spirit, teaching noble ancient principles as he goes. I didn't want this book to end. It is an inspired work, worthy of both study and entertainment.

-- Alan Cohen, author of A Course in Miracles Made Easy

About the Author

A 12-year-old Bill Worth - before he began writing for a living

I have spent all my adult life writing, in one form or another. My first career was in newspaper journalism, where I began with the Dayton (Ohio) Journal Herald as education reporter; I was promoted to assistant city editor, city editor and then managing editor. I became managing editor, the top news executive, in 1975, eventually becoming managing editor of both The Journal Herald and the Dayton Daily News when the newspapers merged in the early 1980s.

I left the Dayton newspapers in 1983 to move to Maui, Hawaii, where my wife, Nancy, and I bought a failing semi-monthly newspaper, which we converted to a weekly, The Lahaina News. I wrote and edited the copy that filled 16-24 tabloid-sized pages a week. Within three years, the daily newspaper on Maui noticed our success and offered a substantial buyout, which we accepted. Terms of the sale required me to continue as editor of The Lahaina News, which I did for three more years.

Meanwhile, Nancy applied to the seminary at Unity School for Religious Studies outside Kansas City, Missouri. When she was accepted, we moved there in 1989, shortly after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 1990-91, while she was completing her seminary training, I wrote the first draft of my novel, House of the Sun. The novel was based on my study of Huna, the spiritual practice of the ancient Hawaiians, and my experiences on Maui, including long conversations with a native Hawaiian who wrote a column for The Lahaina News.

In 1994, I became interested in Unity ministry, and was accepted at Unity’s seminary, graduating and being ordained in 1996. I was a Unity minister from 1996-2009.

In 2009, I left church ministry to devote full time to writing. I completed a spiritual novel called The Hidden Life of Jesus Christ: A Memoir, rewrote House of the Sun, and began planning the sequel to House of the Sun. Now retired, Nancy and I returned to Maui in July, 2016, where I completed my non-fiction account of my 28-year journey with multiple sclerosis, Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis: How Forgiveness Helped Me Heal My Brain By Changing My Mind.

The book, published by Next Century Publishers, is available through its website, www.GoRead.com,www.Amazon.com, and other ebook platforms, or through this website.